Match of the Round
Thornton Redbacks 1-1 Singleton Strikers
Thornton and Singleton missed an opportunity to strengthen their chances of a top four finish when they played out a 1-1 draw at Thornton Park on Sunday.
The Strikers were fresh from a week off and level on points with fourth-placed West Wallsend heading into the weekend, only trailing by goal difference, with Thornton a further point back.
The teams that finish the regular season second, third and fourth on the table will enter the Promotion/Relegation Play-Off Finals Series along with the 11th-placed team from NPL Men’s NNSW to fight for a place in the top flight for 2026.
Thornton had missed their chance to climb into the top four on Tuesday night, going down 4-1 to West Wallsend in their rescheduled round 10 match.
Singleton fired the first shot when Hayden Nicol gave them the lead just before half-time.
It got even more difficult for Thornton in the 52nd minute when Jaryd Abbot when he was sent off after being shown a second yellow card.
The Strikers looked as though they would hold on for a valuable three points, only for Jett White to equalise four minutes from full-time to salvage a draw for the hosts.
The result saw Singleton climb into fourth place above West Wallsend following the Bluebells’ defeat to Toronto Awaba, while Thornton slipped to seventh but remain just a point away from the finals places with three rounds to play.
Singleton welcome Lake Macquarie City to Howe Park in an important round 16 clash on Saturday, while Thornton hosts a desperate South Cardiff.
West Wallsend SFC 0-4 Toronto Awaba FC
Toronto Awaba kept their automatic promotion hopes alive with a 4-0 drubbing of West Wallsend on Saturday.
West Wallsend were trying to build on their momentum when they welcomed the stumbling Stags to Johnston Park.
The Bluebells had climbed into the top four on Tuesday night with their 4-1 victory over Thornton in their rescheduled round 10 clash.
Toronto Awaba were fresh from a week off and desperate to get their season back on track after dropping points in consecutive matches to slip from the top of the table.
The Stags flew out of the blocks with Jarrod Purcell giving the visitors the lead after just five minutes.
Purcell had a second just past the half hour mark before Nick Roberts made it 3-0 one minute before the break.
Tyrell Paulson came off the bench to add a fourth with nine minutes to play.
It was a welcome result for Toronto Awaba who had drawn blanks in their last two matches after being held goalless against Thornton and Kahibah.
The result saw West Wallsend slip to sixth place, one point outside the top four. While Toronto Awaba remains four points adrift of leaders Kahibah FC, though the Stags have a game in hand against Wallsend.
The Bluebells will now have the Wallsend Derby ahead of them on Sunday, while Toronto Awaba hosts struggling Cessnock City on Saturday.
South Cardiff FC 2-4 Kahibah FC
South Cardiff’s relegation to Zone League One edged ever closer on Saturday night as the Gunners went down 4-2 to top of the table Kahibah.
Kahibah were attempting to maintain their lead at the summit when they travelled to Ulinga Oval, with Blair Newham’s side in the box seat to secure automatic promotion to NPL Men’s NNSW for 2026 sitting four points clear with four rounds to play.
Kahibah had won its last seven matches in a row heading into the contest with the Gunners, last dropping points when Singleton held them to a 1-1 draw in round eight.
They were confident heading into Saturday night’s clash having beaten South Cardiff 2-0 in their rescheduled round six clash last Sunday.
And the visitors started strongly, with Riley Ferguson’s double giving them a two-goal advantage before the half hour mark.
But South Cardiff showed great spirit to fight back, pulling a goal back through Elijah Nyman two minutes before half-time.
The Gunners were level on the hour mark through Charlie Gibson to set up a grandstand finish.
Kahibah sent on Jacob Kepreotes in the 82nd minute and the substitute put his side in front less than a minute later, before fellow substitute Curtis Baggs sealed the result for Kahibah in stoppage time.
The result saw Kahibah maintain its four-point lead at the top of the table with three games to play, while South Cardiff remain in last place behind Cessnock City on goal difference.
Kahibah face a tough trip to take on Dudley Redhead United on Saturday evening, while South Cardiff play Thornton.
Dudley Redhead United 4-2 Cessnock City Hornets
Dudley Redhead strengthened its grip on third place with a hard fought 4-2 victory over Cessnock City on Sunday.
Dudley Redhead were looking to continue its fairytale season when they hosted the Hornets at Lydon Oval, having climbed to third with a 2-1 victory over Wallsend in their rescheduled round eight match last Sunday.
Dudley Redhead were promoted to HIT106.9 Northern League One from Zone League One last season and have handled the step up comfortably.
The hosts were 2-0 up inside 11 minutes with Charles Horsley and Connor Allan giving Dudley Redhead the advantage.
The game changed though seven minutes into the second half when Allan and Cessnock’s Thomas Cunningham were sent off.
Zac Kronholm pulled a goal back for the Hornets six minutes later, before Kronholm dragged his side level with his second in the 72nd minute.
The 10-men from both sides battled to find a winner, with Dudley Redhead awarded a penalty 10 minutes from full-time.
Samuel Dunkley stepped up to score for Dudley Redhead, giving the hosts a 3-2 lead, before Patrick Tappouras sealed the result in stoppage time.
Dudley Redhead remain on course to reach the Promotion/Relegation Play-Off Finals Series which would put them within touching distance of back-to-back promotions.
Cessnock have their own problems at the other end of the table, remaining only safe from relegation on goal difference.
Wallsend FC 2-3 Lake Macquarie City FC
Lake Macquarie City kept its finals hopes alive with a 3-2 victory over Wallsend on Sunday.
Bailey Ryan gave the Red Devils the lead inside nine minutes at The Gardens, only for Callum Stalling to equalise for Lakes on the half hour mark.
Marcus Field put the visitors in front on 53 minutes, before Jordan Preston looked to have sealed the result with Lakes’ third goal 10 minutes from full-time.
But both sides then had a player sent off, with Wallsend’s Ethan O’Brien and Lake Macquarie’s Matthew Langton shown red cards five minutes from the end.
Cody Halpin then pulled a goal back for Wallsend from the penalty spot to set up a grandstand finish, only for Lakes to hold on for a valuable three points.
The win saw Lakes climb to fifth, level on points with fourth-placed Singleton. While Wallsend remain eighth, just a point above last-placed South Cardiff.
Wallsend will need to regroup for their derby against West Wallsend on Sunday, while Lakes face a huge clash in the finals race against Singleton on Saturday.
